Media Foundation for West Africa (Accra)
10 March 2008
press release
Gourouza Aboubacar, Managing Editor of L’Eveil Plus, a bi-weekly independent newspaper based in Niamey was on March 6, 2008, sentenced to one month in prison without remission and fined 50,000 CFA Francs (approximately US$125) for allegedly bringing the Nigerien justice system into disrepute.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that the verdict followed a complaint filed by the State Prosecutor of the Niamey Court. A complaint for libel was also filed by Moussa Keita, politician and former activist in the National Movement for a Developing Society – Nassara (MNSD-Nassara). However, Keita withdrew his complaint after a request from the Niger Union of Independent Journalists (UJPN).
Aboubacar was arrested on February 25, and has since been detained in the Niamey Civil Prison.
On January 29, 2008, L’Eveil Plus published two articles entitled “The Plot and Plotters Unmasked” and “The Issue of Niamey Urban Community (CUN): Another Plot against the MNSD” which led to the complaints.
The first article accused Keita of "orchestrating" a major "conspiracy" to secure charges against former Prime Minister, Hama Amadou. The second criticized the detention of the president of the CUN, Aboubacar Seydou Ganda, who according to the article was held "without any evidence of the truth of the charges against him". The journalist said “this case is not judicial but political”.
MFWA is concerned about this clear manifestation of intolerance of alternative views in Niger and calls on the authorities to demonstrate respect for press freedom.
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